Clinton, Biden: A private breakfast

Jul. 30, 2013
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Joe Biden and Hillary Rodham Clinton / Cliff Owen, AP

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

Tuesday's breakfast may have been more interesting than Monday's lunch.

A day after lunching at the White House with President Obama, former secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had breakfast Tuesday with Vice President Biden.

While Obama has run his last political race, Clinton and Biden are said to be studying a run for presidency themselves in 2016.

Biden and Clinton have known each other for years. They have worked together on national security issues, both as members of the Senate and during Clinton's term at the State Department.

But you can't help but wonder if politics -- specifically 2016 politics -- came up at their breakfast meeting at the vice president's residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory.

Both breakfast partners sought the presidency in 2008. Biden dropped out early, while Clinton lost to Obama in an historic battle for the Democratic nomination.

Former Clinton aide Paul Begala told CNN there may be another reason for the former first lady's separate meals with Obama and Biden: Showing "the unity of the Democratic party," in contrast to the moderate-conservative clash among Republicans. "There's a terrible fight in the Republican Party going on and here, for once, it's the Democrats who are united," Begala said.

White House officials said the Obama-Clinton lunch was more personal than political. But Clinton and Biden may well be looking at life beyond the Obama administration.